A Nairobi mother is struggling to find words adequate enough to describe the pain of losing her daughter in circumstances that have left the entire family bewildered and heartbroken.
Grace Nderitu spoke publicly about the death of her daughter, Mercy Maina, whose lifeless body was discovered inside her Lavington apartment roughly a month after she had last been seen alive.
In a phone call conversation captured in a report by NTV Kenya, Grace said the last time the two spoke was at the beginning of August, and nothing about that conversation suggested anything was wrong.
“She was a soft girl with a clean heart; she loved her mother and her siblings so much,” Grace said, describing Mercy as bubbly, jovial and someone who genuinely cherished the people around her.
The family is still deliberating on how to give Mercy a proper farewell, even as the reality of her absence continues to set in.
Mercy Maina’s last time seen alive
Those who lived near Mercy in the Lavington apartment block paint a picture of a warm and generous young woman. The last time neighbours saw her, she was outside the building distributing gifts to children.
Before her disappearance became apparent, she also left her cat in a neighbour’s care, reportedly saying she wanted to ensure the animal would be looked after if she were not around.
It was the building manager, Musa Kombo, who eventually triggered the discovery.
After neighbours began raising concerns about a foul smell emanating from Mercy’s unit, Kombo went to the building and asked residents to open their doors for a routine check. Mercy’s door remained shut, and her phone went unanswered each time he called.
“I even called the owner of the house asking if Mercy had left any communication with him but he said there was none. That is when we reported the matter to Muthangari Police Station and found her,” Kombo said.
Police were subsequently called in to force the door open, and the discovery inside confirmed everyone’s worst fears.
Beyond the grief, what makes the loss even more painful for her family is knowing that Mercy had harboured a deeply personal ambition: she had dreamed of building a house for her mother. That aspiration, like so many other things she had planned, will now never come to pass.
Grace and the rest of the family are left to hold on to memories of a daughter and sibling who, by all accounts, lit up the spaces she occupied and gave generously to those around her.
Where to seek help when depressed
If you or your loved one is struggling with depression, here are helplines and mental health support services available to get help with a focus on Kenya:
Amani Counselling Centre & Training Institute: +254 722 178 409 / +254 733 687 626.
Chiromo Hospital Group Mental Health Helpline: 0800 220 000 (Toll-free, 24/7).
